Jacob l



@uiten tsts latsnt @fitta Letters .Patent Ns. 76,541, dated April 7, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN .THE MODE OP LUBRIGATING AXLES.

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TO WHOM IT MAY CONOERN: l y

Be it known that I, JAcoB L. Sonnen, of Chillicothe, Ross county, and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Mode of Lubricating. Carriage-Axles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making part of this specification. l

The first' part of my invention consists lin making the spindle of a carriage-axle tubular, and providing it with suitable ducts, chambers, and an elevated oil-reservoir, whereby the spindle and its accompanying boxcan be constantly lubricated when the vehicle is in motion, while the supply of oil can be shut o when the carriage 1s at rest.

The second part of my invention consists in coring out the box,.so as to diminish the amount of bearingsurface on the spindle, by which means the friction between these two members is reduced to such an extent that the carriage can be drawn with the least amount of exertion on the part ofthe horse, while at the same time the circulation of the oil is facilitated. d

The third part of' my invention relates to a sand and mud-guard, which is formed on the inner end oi' the box in such a mannern as to prevent sand, dust, and dirt from entering the box and spindle. Inl the accompanying drawingsp Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a carriage-axle embodying my improvements.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section of a carriage-axle, taken at the line x x; and

Figure 3 represents a modification of my invention. i

A represents aportion of a carriage-axle having the customary spindle B, which is provided with a longi4 t'udinal channel, C, and the inner end of this channel communicates with the elevated oil-reservoir D, while the outer end of said channel is closed by a screw-threaded tap, E. F F are ducts which are drilled through from the outside of the spindle into the channel B, and these ducts allow the oil which flows from the reservoir D to escape between the spindleand box, and thus keep their opposite surfaces constantly lubricated. rlhe amount of oil which issues from the reservoir is regulated by the stop-cock G.

The inside of the box H is cored out at J J', so as to form annular oil-chambers, andas the oil flows out from the ends'of the ducts F F it is received into said chambers, and it is carried around with themas fast as the wheels revolve. These chambers being located op'posite the months of the ducts, there is no chance for thev latter to become clogged up. Another advantage arising fromv the use of these chambors'consists in the fact that the friction is diminished in proportion to the amount of metal cored out of the box, and the bearing of the latter is brought upon the two'ends of the spindle.

The inner end of the box H is provided with an outwardly-flaring iange or rim, I, which I term the sand and mud-guard, and this guard prevents dirtot` any kind from entering between -the box and spindle. This sand and mud-guard completely encloses thecollar a of the axle, and it may either be cast with the box or attached to it in any suitable manner. 'The box is prevented from slipping ofi` of the spindle by' the customary scrcw-cap orvnut K. L L are washers, which, being interposed between the collar a, cap K, and theends of the box4 H, prevent rattling; and these washers may be composed of leather, India rubbcr,'cork, or any other suitable substance.

Brazed or otherwise .attached to the axle, in the rear -of the collar a, is a short bar or block, M, which servesto give elevation to the reservoir D, and also imparts additional vthickness and strength tothe axle at the pointwhere it is most liable to become fractured. i

In the modification of my invention,- shown in fig. 3, the oil-chambersare not formed inthe box alone, but the spindle also has recesses, d' d', which correspond in position'and dimensions with the annular chambers I; bf of said box. The tap E at the end ofv'the spindle permits of the channel C being cleaned out in case it should .become clogged up with sediment contained in the oil, or be otherwise obstructed. The stop-cock G, which regulates the How ofthe lubricant, may be omitted, and the reservoir can be furnished' with a wick, so that the oil may be discharged by capillary attraction, but the stop-cock is preferred, because it enables one to have complete control over the supply which issues from the reservoir.

In cafse the oil should become too thick to flow in extreme cold weather, the friction caused by the revolution of the box will generate enough warmth to make the oil limpidfbut the hollow spindle will prevent the exle from becoming injuriously heated, no matter how high the speed may be at which the vehicle tref/els. The reservoir which contains the lubricant being elevated :bout two inches ubovc the axle, the oil issues from the ducts F F with sulicient force or velobity to strike against the inside of the annular chambers J J', und as the box revolves.

the oil is distributed over the entire surface of the spindle.

In the drawing, but two ducts leading-from the inner` channel to the outside of the spindle ure shown, ou it is evident that any desired number of' them may be employed, the number of annular chambers on the insideV of the box being increased so as to correspond with said ducts.

d claim herein as new, and of my nvention 1. The combination of the tubular spindle B C, elevated oil-reservoir D, tops E, ducts F F', and'annular oil-chambers J J', as and for the purposes specified. V

2. I claim providing the inner end'of a wheel-hub with the outwardly-flaring sund and mud-guard I, for the purpose described.

3. I further claim Vattaching the bur or block M to the axle in the rear of the collar a, for the object explained and set fol-th.

In testimony of which invention, I hereunto set my hund.

JACOB L. SORBER.

Witnesses :l

GEO. H. KNIGHT, JAMES H. LAYMAN. 

